Detection and Partial Characterization of Bacteriocin in the Methanotrophic Bacterium Methylobacter bovis

N. G. Starostina^*, N. I. Pashkova, and A. B. Tsiomenko

Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142292 Russia; fax: (095) 923-3602; E-mail: staros@ibpm.serpukhov.su

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received November 10, 1997; Revision received December 2, 1997

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The strain Methylobacter bovis 98 was selected among methanotrophic bacteria as one of the most active producers of secretory bacteriocin-like compounds. In the above strain this compound was shown to be a protein with a molecular weight of about 70 kD, relatively thermostable, having a bactericidal effect on closely related organisms. Its properties as a whole are consistent with the accepted definition of bacteriocins, which so far have not been found in this group of microorganisms. A methodical approach that combines electrophoretic separation of secretory proteins and testing their antibacterial activity directly in polyacrylamide gel allowed us for the first time to identify bacteriocin in methanotrophic bacterial culture.

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KEY WORDS: methanotrophic bacteria, antagonistic interactions, bacteriocins, secretion

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